Putting in an Aftermarket 6 Speed Transmission in a Harley Davidson
For many riders of Harley Davidson motorcycles putting in asix speed aftermarket transmissionis the way to go. In order to reduce the rpm's required by the engine to cruise at highway speeds a six speed is a logical choice. Installing one doesn't have to be monumental task however, and it is possible to do it yourself in your garage with the proper build kit and tools.
Harley Davidson makes an aftermarket six speedgear setfor easy installation into bikes that have a trap door on the transmission case. If you choose to follow this route in order to upgrade the transmission in your bike it is as easy as swapping out the gear set. The kit comes with instructions as to how it should be installed, but a complete owner's manual for the model bike may be required. This is the easiest way to install a six speed transmission but some riders do complain that certain kits make the motorcycle uncomfortable to ride so thorough knowledge of the various kits available is recommended.
If the bike in question doesn't have thetrap door access portalthen there is still hope for an easy swap. Various companies make aftermarket six speed transmissions for installation into Harley Davidson's and it is a somewhat common practice. Certain kits are as easy to install as simply removing the stock transmission and installing the new one case and all. It is also possible to gut the stock transmission, modify the case, and install a new transmission that way. Having the case gutted and tooled for a new gear set may require some time however and will require that the bike be down for a period.
Something to consider when changing the transmission is the overall power of the engine for this will be effected by a new gear set. If the motorcycle is still operating on the stock horsepower in order to achieve a better ride and handling an upgrade to the amount of available power may be necessary. With the right amount of power and a properly installed gear set the motorcycle will be more pleasurable to ride and will operate more efficiently at cruising speeds. With the amount of options available including the trap door installed kit, a complete swap, or a retooling of the stock case, changing to a six speed transmission can be a worthwhile and enjoyable modification to any Harley Davidson.
